Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 23 December 1999

Scottish Executive

British Council

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who represents it on the Scottish Committee of the British Council; to whom that representative reports, and what mechanism is in place for its input to the work of the Council to be subject to scrutiny by the Parliament.

Mr Jack McConnell: Paragraph D3.21 of the Overarching Concordat on International Relations refers to representation on the Scottish Committee of the British Council and states that there will be two senior officials from the Scottish Executive on the Committee.

  Precisely which officials will serve has still to be decided. They will be accountable to Ministers who will, in turn, be accountable to the Parliament.

Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools for deaf people there are in Scotland.

Mr Sam Galbraith: There are six special schools where the majority of pupils have hearing impairment as their main difficulty in learning. Otherwise, the majority of hearing impaired pupils are educated either in the 91 Special Units attached to mainstream schools or full-time in mainstream classes.

Education

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce private funding into the higher education sector over the length of this Parliamentary session and, if it has no such plans, what alternative plans it has to ensure adequate funding for this sector.

Henry McLeish: The higher education sector receives about 30% of its funding from wholly private sources. The Executive proposes additional funding of £250 million for the three years to 2001-02 as announced following the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2605 by Henry McLeish on 30 November 1999, what percentage of forecast Regional Selective Assistance expenditure is already committed in each year from 1999-2000 to 2002-03.

Henry McLeish: The figures requested are given in the table below :

  


RSA (gross)

  

1999-2000

  

2000-01

  

2001-02

  

2002-03

  



Baseline (£ millions)

  

79.8

  

71.0

  

85.0

  

85.0

  



Committed (%)

  

84%

  

90%

  

57%

  

38%

  



  RSA forecasts are calculated quarterly and these figures relate to the amount committed at the start of October 1999. The committed percentages will tend to increase each quarter as new RSA offers are made and accepted. The assessment of committed expenditure takes into account the fact that grants are typically paid over a number of years, and that a proportion of projects will not go ahead as planned.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2607 by Henry McLeish on 30 November 1999, what was the (a) mean and (b) median average amount of Regional Selective Assistance provided to projects in Scotland, as a percentage of the total cost of all assisted projects, in each of the last three years.

Henry McLeish: Regional aid ceilings are defined in terms of NGE (Net Grant Equivalent). The mean and median NGEs for RSA offers accepted over each of the last three years are given in the table below:

  


Regional Selective Assistance

  

Net Grant Equivalent 

  (NGE)

  


 

Mean

  

Median

  



1996-97

  

16.2

  

16.2

  



1997-98

  

16.3

  

16.5

  



1998-99

  

16.5

  

16.8

  



  Note: The NGE represents the grant value of the aid net of tax and after discounting expressed as a percentage of the discounted fixed capital costs of the assisted project.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2607 by Henry McLeish on 30 November 1999, what is the normal margin of error, in percentage terms, used in Regional Selective Assistance calculations.

Henry McLeish: Based on past experience of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) forecasts, the margin of error, in percentage terms, for RSA expenditure is given in the table below:

  


Forecasting

  

Typical Margin of 

  error

  



1 year ahead 

  

3 to 15%

  



2 years ahead

  

16 to 22%

  



3 years ahead

  

15 to 28%

  



  RSA is a demand led scheme with individual grants ranging in value from several thousand pounds to tens of millions of pounds. RSA is drawn down by companies in instalments linked to their progress in implementing the assisted project.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to require Local Enterprise Company board members to be accredited by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Henry McLeish: We have no plans to bring Local Enterprise Company board appointments under the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. They are private companies that operate under contract to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the criteria for Board membership are set out in their operating contracts. In making appointments to their Boards, LECs have adopted principles similar to those recommended by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Environment

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested a report from Inverclyde Council on the impact of the recent flooding in the area.

Sarah Boyack: Under the Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997 Councils are required to publish a biennial report stating the measures they consider they require to take to prevent or mitigate flooding of non-agricultural land in their area.

  The biennial report from Inverclyde Council, due to be published by 5 December, is now overdue but a specific report on the impact of the recent flooding in the area has been received from the Inverclyde Council.

  Recognising the importance of the A8 trunk road to Inverclyde, Scottish Executive officials met with the Council on 17 December 1999 to discuss the causes of flooding on the A8 with a view to setting up a study to recommend improvements to prevent future disruption.

Environment

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested a report from West of Scotland Water outlining how it plans to provide a permanent solution to the recurring problem of flooding in Inverclyde.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive has not requested a report from the West of Scotland Water Authority (WOSWA). WOSWA is actively investigating the causes of recent flooding from the sewerage system at Port Glasgow in co-operation with the Inverclyde Council who are the Flood Prevention Authority.

Environment

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to assess the impact recent flooding in Inverclyde has had on local businesses and schools.

Sarah Boyack: No steps have been taken by the Scottish Executive to assess the impact of recent flooding on local businesses. Any such assessment would be a matter for the local authority under its emergency procedures or economic development role.

  In respect of the effect on schools of recent flooding, it is for the local authority to assess the impact and review the implications for the future.

Environment

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to calculate the expense incurred by the police, fire and ambulance services as a result of the recent flooding in Inverclyde.

Sarah Boyack: No steps have been taken to assess the expense to police and fire services of the recent flooding. Such a calculation can be made only by the relevant police and fire authorities.

  The Ambulance Service have confirmed that there were no additional resource implications associated with this flooding in Inverclyde.

Environment

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to calculate the impact on the business of official bodies, such as courts and tribunals, of recent floods in Inverclyde.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive has received no reports of flooding adversely affecting the business of the courts or information on other bodies such as tribunals. Therefore, no steps have been taken to assess the impact of the recent flooding.

Europe

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1208 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 November 1999, what was (a) the budgeted and (b) the actual cost of acquiring Scotland House.

Mr Jack McConnell: Scotland House is leased by Scotland Europa and sublet to its resident members and the Scottish Executive EU Office. As stated in my answer to question number S1W-3174, the budgeted and actual costs of acquiring Scotland House are a matter for Scotland Europa.

Europe

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1208 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 November 1999, whether it will provide a breakdown of the budgeted and actual costs incurred by Scotland Europa in relation to Scotland House.

Mr Jack McConnell: The breakdown of the budgeted and actual costs incurred by Scotland Europa is a matter for Scotland Europa and its members, both private and public sector. It is not a subsidiary of the Scottish Executive.

Europe

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits to the Scottish economy it anticipates as a result of the recent visit to Prague by the Minister for Finance.

Mr Jack McConnell: I visited Prague to meet the Minister for Regional Development and to launch, with him, the Twinning Covenant for the preparation of the Czech Republic to administer structural funds. The purpose of these European Commission funded Twinning Covenants is to establish good administrative practices in these specialised areas in the accession countries. This ensures that EU funds are spent as effectively as possible.

  It is hard to quantify now the economic benefits to Scotland of securing such a prestigious project in one of the first wave accession countries. However, business contacts will extend well beyond the Government departments concerned, to supporting agencies and others.

  The value of the Twinning Covenant is €2 million over 20 months. The Scottish Executive leads a three Member State Consortium, with France and Ireland, and will administer the funding for all of the countries. The fact that Scotland is leading this exercise reflects very positively on the Scottish system for administering the structural funds.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2610 by Mr Jack McConnell on 1 December 1999, what estimate is made in the Scottish Executive’s forecast budgets for local authorities for the current and each of the next two financial years for (a) pay awards and (b) redundancy costs.

Mr Jack McConnell: It is for local authorities themselves to decide what provision to make for pay awards and redundancy costs when setting their budgets. The local government settlement for next year will allow spending to rise to £6,746 million, an increase of 3.7% over the comparable figure this year and higher than the forecast increase in the RPI.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the current amount of council tax arrears in each local authority in Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: The information is set out in the attached table.

  


Council Tax billed, 

  collected and uncollected as at 30 June1999 (1) (2)(£ 

  thousands)
1993-1994 to 1998-1999

  



 


Net amount billed

  

Amount collected

  

Amount uncollected

  



Scotland

  

6,224,730

  

5,778,866

  

445,864

  



 


 


 


 




Aberdeen City

  

296,803

  

279,328

  

17,475

  



Aberdeenshire(3)


270,160

  

261,712

  

8,448

  



Angus

  

126,578

  

122,193

  

4,385

  



Argyll & Bute 

  

132,224

  

124,802

  

7,422

  



Clackmannanshire

  

54,677

  

51,381

  

3,296

  



Dumfries & Galloway(4)


171,857

  

162,596

  

9,261

  



Dundee City

  

174,778

  

161,648

  

13,130

  



East Ayrshire

  

122,344

  

111,261

  

11,083

  



East Dunbartonshire

  

170,978

  

162,090

  

8,888

  



East Lothian

  

121,738

  

112,848

  

8,890

  



East Renfrewshire 


127,697

  

123,472

  

4,225

  



Edinburgh, City of

  

752,995

  

697,349

  

55,646

  



Eilean Siar

  

26,297

  

24,977

  

1,320

  



Falkirk

  

143,167

  

137,409

  

5,758

  



Fife

  

410,017

  

390,448

  

19,569

  



Glasgow City 


647,621

  

543,758

  

103,863

  



Highland

  

257,057

  

240,556

  

16,501

  



Inverclyde(5)


91,755

  

84,950

  

6,805

  



Midlothian

  

104,900

  

98,213

  

6,687

  



Moray

  

91,276

  

87,695

  

3,581

  



North Ayrshire

  

144,899

  

134,325

  

10,574

  



North Lanarkshire

  

317,239

  

291,326

  

25,913

  



Orkney Islands

  

18,879

  

18,548

  

331

  



Perth & Kinross

  

183,017

  

177,109

  

5,908

  



Renfrewshire

  

216,143

  

198,597

  

17,546

  



Scottish Borders

  

119,047

  

115,929

  

3,118

  



Shetland Islands

  

19,545

  

19,067

  

478

  



South Ayrshire

  

160,139

  

152,294

  

7,845

  



South Lanarkshire

  

355,404

  

328,189

  

27,215

  



Stirling

  

111,615

  

107,714

  

3,901

  



West Dunbartonshire

  

116,315

  

102,745

  

13,570

  



West Lothian

  

167,569

  

154,337

  

13,232

  



  Source: As reported by Councils in statistical return Community Charge, Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates Receipts (CTRR JUN 1999).

  Notes:

  
The unitary authorities came into 

  being on 1 April 1996. Of the £5.8 billion collected between April 

  1993 and March 1999, £3.4 billion was collected by unitary authorities; 

  £2.4 billion by Regions.
Amounts uncollected are before any 

  provision for bad or doubtful debts, or amounts written off. Up 

  to 1995-96 the figures for amounts billed and collected include 

  Council Water Charges. Authorities are asked to exclude surcharges 

  from amounts billed, collected and uncollected but not all authorities 

  are able to do this.
Aberdeenshire has supplied estimated 

  figures for amount billed for all financial years and amount received 

  for financial years 1993-94 to 1995-96.
Council tax figures for Dumfries and 

  Galloway as in letter to Scottish Executive dated 14 December 1999.
Inverclyde has supplied estimated 

  figures for council tax billed and uncollected for financial year 

  1993-94.

Finance

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have asked for more funding for next year than they were initially allocated; how much these authorities have asked for, and what response has been given to each one.

Mr Jack McConnell: Individual councils were notified of their allocations from the local government finance revenue settlement for 2000-01 on Wednesday 15 December. To date I am not aware of any councils having submitted formal requests for additional grant for next year.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cochlea implants have been carried out in the years 1997-98 and 1998-99 broken down by age.

Susan Deacon: The information available on numbers of cochlear implantation is shown in below.

  Number of cochlear implant discharges from hospitals in Scotland; by age of patient

  


 


Extracochlear prosthesis

  

Intracochlear prosthesis

  



 


1997-98

  

1998-99

  

1997-98

  

1998-99

  



Under 10

  

1

  

1

  

19

  

18

  



10-19

  

0

  

1

  

3

  

3

  



20-29

  

0

  

0

  

2

  

4

  



30-39

  

2

  

1

  

2

  

4

  



40-49

  

1

  

0

  

3

  

6

  



50-59

  

1

  

6

  

4

  

4

  



60-69

  

1

  

1

  

7

  

3

  



70-79

  

1

  

0

  

2

  

2

  



Total

  

7

  

10

  

42

  

44

  



  Source: ISD: SMR01 [data provisional at November 1999]

Health

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give the reason for its interpretation of section 7a of EU council directive 91/492 which lays down the health conditions for the production and placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs.

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give its interpretation of section 7a of EU council directive 91/492 which lays down the health conditions for the production and placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs.

Susan Deacon: Section 7a of Chapter 5 of the Annex to Directive 91/492/EEC was transposed into GB legislation by Regulation 4(6) of the Food Safety (Fishery Products and Live Shellfish) (Hygiene) Amendment Regulations 1999.

  The terms of this Regulation are identical to those of the Directive.

  This legislation requires that the whole body or any part edible separately is tested. The testing regime in Scotland is directed to the gonad since research has shown that, of the most commonly eaten parts of the scallop, this tends to have the highest concentrations of toxins.

Health

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost to the NHS in (a) Scotland and (b) the former Grampian region was in each of the last four years was for methadone prescriptions.

Susan Deacon: The cost of methadone dispensed in the community in the Grampian Health Board area and in Scotland as a whole, for the four financial years to 1998-99, is shown in the table.

  GRAMPIAN HEALTH BOARD AREA

  

 

GIC (1) 

  (£000s)

  

ESTIMATED FEES (£000s)

  

TOTAL COST(2)(3)
(£000s)

  



1995-96

  

99

  

166

  

265

  



1996-97

  

108

  

159

  

267

  



1997-98

  

133

  

185

  

318

  



1998-99

  

154

  

271

  

425

  



  SCOTLAND

  

 

GIC (1)(£000s)

  

ESTIMATED FEES (£000s)

  

TOTAL COST (2) (3) 

  (£000s)

  



1995-96

  

1,244

  

2,080

  

3,325

  



1996-97

  

1,530

  

2,436

  

3,966

  



1997-98

  

1,840

  

2,657

  

4,497

  



1998-99

  

2,037

  

3,264

  

5,300

  



  Notes:

  1. GIC = Gross Ingredient Cost

  2. The cost of methadone dispensed by clinics and hospital is not available centrally.

  A range of supplementary fees are paid to community pharmacy contractors in the Grampian Health Board area for supervising drug misusers who take their prescribed methadone on the pharmacy premises. The cost of these locally negotiated fees is not held centrally.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many asthmatics were diagnosed per year over the last three years, categorised by health board area.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Food Standards Agency office in Aberdeen will open.

Susan Deacon: The aim is for the Food Standards Agency office in Aberdeen to be open in spring 2000 when the Agency will assume its full powers.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed South Lanarkshire Council’s direct labour organisation in the last three months.

Mr Frank McAveety: No.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed North Lanarkshire Council’s direct labour organisation in the last three months.

Mr Frank McAveety: Under the terms of the section 19B Direction, the Scottish Executive is involved in regular contact with and monitoring of North Lanarkshire Council’s DLO.

Local Government

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed East Ayrshire Council’s direct labour organisation in the last three months.

Mr Frank McAveety: Under the terms of the section 19B Direction, the Scottish Executive is involved in regular contact with and monitoring of East Ayrshire Council’s DLO.

Ministers

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Ministers fully reimburse the Consolidated Fund for any journeys taken in their Ministerial vehicles when visiting their constituencies or attending party political events.

Donald Dewar: Guidance on the functions of the Government Car Service in Scotland has been issued to all Ministers of the Scottish Executive. Ministers and Deputy Ministers are entitled to use GCS services for journeys which are necessary in the course of carrying out their duties as Ministers.

  If a Minister wishes to use the GCS in Scotland to arrange travel for Party or private business he/she may do so on a repayment basis.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-303 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, whether it will provide updated information on the number of

  companies which have taken on young people under the employment option of the New Deal for Young People and what percentage of trading businesses this figure represents.

Henry McLeish: Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of New Deal in their areas. The public and voluntary sector organisations which contribute to the New Deal in this way fall within the remit of the Scottish Executive.

  The number of young people in Scotland who had secured sustained jobs through the programme to the end of September was 12,930 and the number of companies which had signed New Deal employer agreements was 10,094. This represents 6.7% of businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE in Scotland. Information about the number of companies which have taken on New Deal recruits is not available.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-302 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, whether it will provide updated information on how many young people who have obtained employment through the New Deal Gateway have been taken on by employers who are not receiving a New Deal subsidy and what percentage of those taken on under the employment option this represents.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-3137 also answered today.

  The total number to the end of September was 7,930 and this represented 61% of those who had moved into sustained employment by that date.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-304 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, whether it will provide updated information on the number of people who have joined the employment option of the New Deal for Young People to date; how many have left the option; of these, how many moved into unsubsidised jobs, and whether any information on the number of young people retained by the employer who took them on after completion of the six month period is now available.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-3137 also answered today.

  By the end of September 3,553 had joined the employer option: of the 2,057 who had left the employer option 749 had moved into unsubsidised employment either as a result of being retained by their employers or by moving to a job with another employer. This includes people who left the New Deal from the Employment Option, and people who moved from it into Follow-through and then subsequently left the New Deal.

  Details of the periods spent on options and the numbers who are retained by the employer who took them on under the employer option are not available.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-300 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, whether it will provide updated information on the number of people who have joined the New Deal for Young People and on the expenditure incurred on this programme to date.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-3137 also answered today.

  By the end of September 39,700 had joined the programme in Scotland. Expenditure incurred to that date was approximately £34.5 million, excluding the cost of allowances where separate information on Scotland is not available. This figure understates the total costs accrued due to time lags in billing and reimbursement.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1030 by Henry McLeish on 6 September 1999, whether it will provide an updated breakdown of expenditure to date on each New Deal programme other than the New Deal for Young People.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-3137 also answered today.

  The expenditure on each New Deal programme other than the New Deal for Young People in Scotland from April 1998 to November 1999 was:

  (a) New Deal 50 plus pathfinder: £0.02 million

  (b) New Deal 25 plus: £9.2 million

  (c) New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People: £0.2 million

  (d) New Deal for Disabled People pilot: £0.5 million

  (e) New Deal for Lone Parents: £3.3 million

  The figure for New Deal 25 plus includes spending on employment subsidies. The other New Deal programmes listed do not offer an employment subsidy, but the figures given include various other allowance payments.

  These figures understate the total costs accrued due to time lags in billing and reimbursement.

  In addition, there are central running and marketing costs for each programme which have not been included in these figures.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-878 by Henry McLeish on 31 August 1999, whether it will provide updated information on the number of people in each unit of delivery currently enrolled in each of the following New Deal options: (a) full-time education and training, (b) voluntary sector and (c) environmental task force.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-3137 also answered today.

  The table below shows the numbers in Scotland by Unit of Delivery currently enrolled (end September figures) in each of the following New Deal options: (a) full-time education and training, (b) voluntary sector, and (c) environment task force.

  


Unit of Delivery

  

Full Time Education/Training

  

Voluntary Sector

  

Environment Task 

  Force

  



Ayrshire

  

145

  

105

  

85

  



Borders

  

25

  

7

  

20

  



Dumfries & Galloway

  

62

  

17

  

16

  



Edinburgh, East & Midlothian

  

107

  

75

  

76

  



Forth Valley

  

128

  

46

  

69

  



Glasgow

  

467

  

201

  

228

  



Grampian

  

55

  

41

  

20

  



Inverness & Nairn

  

15

  

6

  

16

  



Lanarkshire

  

285

  

123

  

188

  



Renfrewshire

  

99

  

70

  

74

  



Tayside

  

127

  

63

  

100

  



Western Isles

  

13

  

5

  

12

  



Dunbarton

  

118

  

27

  

65

  



Fife

  

258

  

61

  

75

  



Moray, Strathspey & Badenoch

  

8

  

8

  

18

  



West Lothian

  

24

  

16

  

21

  



Argyll & the Islands

  

16

  

10

  

31

  



Caithness & Sutherland

  

26

  

4

  

12

  



Lochaber

  

2

  

1

  

3

  



Orkney

  

3

  

0

  

0

  



Ross & Cromarty

  

17

  

1

  

9

  



Shetland

  

2

  

0

  

0

  



Skye & Lochalsh

  

4

  

0

  

1

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1032 by Henry McLeish on 6 September 1999, whether it will provide updated destination statistics for the New Deal for Young People and other New Deal Programmes.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-3137 also answered today.

  The information requested in relation to the New Deal for Young People is published as part of the Government’s statistical services monthly statistical first release on New Deal and held centrally by the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre. The New Deal for Disabled People and New Deal 50 plus are still at the pilot stage.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1036 by Henry McLeish on 6 September 1999, whether it will provide updated information on the number of young people who have secured sustained employment through the New Deal.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question number S1W-3137 also answered today.

  This information is detailed as part of the Government’s statistical services monthly statistical first release on New Deal held centrally by the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre.

Pets

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the introduction of the pilot PET Travel Scheme will affect Scottish owners wishing to travel with their pets.

Ross Finnie: As from 28 February, pet owners in Scotland will be able to travel with their cats or dogs to and from the designated countries in exactly the same way as owners from elsewhere in the UK. Entry during this pilot phase will be through a number of ports selected for their profile of passenger movement. This will ensure that the practical operation of the new arrangements planned as an alternative to the present six months quarantine requirements are fully tested before the full scheme comes into operation in 2001.

Programme for Government

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken in relation to the Programme for Government commitment that it will publish by the end of 1999 its strategy for modernising government in Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: On 20 December I addressed a conference on modernising government. I set out the Scottish Executive’s strategic vision for modernising government. The Executive is determined that Scotland has a 21st Century government to meet the challenges and the changing environment that it now faces. The Scottish Executive has a key role to play in taking this message to the wider public sector in Scotland. 21st Century Government in Scotland will be about, working in partnership; openness and accountability; inclusion; and, delivery. In taking this forward the Scottish Executive will encourage innovation and creativity in government; identify and remove blockages; share knowledge; and, put the citizen at the centre.

  A copy of the full speech is available in SPICe and on the Scottish Executive website.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of all public appointments it makes, including judicial appointments, and which minister is responsible for making each appointment.

Mr Jack McConnell: The information requested is shown in the tables below. The tables cover appointments to NDPBs sponsored by the Scottish Executive and judicial appointments.

  Appointments made by individual Ministers

  


Responsible Minister

  

Body

  



First Minister

  

Advisory Panel of Economic Consultants

  



Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd (Chair 

  only)

  



Central Advisory Committee on Justices 

  of the Peace

  



Highlands & Islands Airports 

  Ltd (Chair only)

  



Justice of the Peace Advisory Committees 

  (32)

  



Local Government Boundary Commission 

  (Chair only)

  



Parole Board for Scotland (Chair 

  only)

  



Scottish Conveyancing and Executry 

  Services Board

  



Scottish Homes (Chair only)

  



Scottish Legal Aid Board (Chair 

  only)

  



Scottish Qualifications Authority 

  (Chair only)

  



Scottish Records Advisory Council

  



Scottish Transport Group (Chair 

  only)

  



Deputy First Minister and Minister 

  for Justice

  

Scottish Law Commission

  



Scottish Legal Aid Board (members 

  only)

  



Parole Board for Scotland (members 

  only)

  



Lord Advocate

  

Scottish Committee of the Council 

  on Tribunals

  



Minister for Health and Community 

  Care.

  

Health Appointments Advisory Committee

  



National Board for Nursing, Midwifery 

  and Health Visiting for Scotland

  



Scottish Hospitals Endowment Research 

  Trust

  



Scottish Medical Practices Committee

  



Clinical Standards Board for Scotland

  



Health Boards (15)

  



Health Education Board for Scotland

  



National Health Service Trusts 

  (28)

  



Post Qualification Education Board 

  for NHS Pharmacists in Scotland

  



Scottish Advisory Committee on 

  Distinction Awards

  



Scottish Advisory Committee on 

  the Medical Workforce

  



Scottish Ambulance Service Board

  



Scottish Council for Post Graduate 

  Medical and Dental Education

  



Scottish Dental Practice Board

  



State Hospitals Board for Scotland

  



Scottish Hospital Trust

  


 

The Common Services Agency

  



Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong 

  Learning

  

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  



Scottish Enterprise

  



Scottish Further Education Funding 

  Council

  



Scottish Further Education Unit

  



Scottish Higher Education Funding 

  Council

  



Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong 

  Learning

  

Scottish Industrial Development 

  Advisory Board (members only)

  



Scottish Tourist Board

  



Scottish Qualifications Authority 

  (members only)

  



Minister for Rural Affairs

  

Crofters Commission

  



Deer Commission for Scotland

  



Hill Farming Advisory Committee 

  for Scotland

  



Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

  



Scottish Standing Committee for 

  the Calculation of Residual Values of Fertilisers and Feed Stuffs

  



Minister for Transport and the 

  Environment

  

Advisory Committee on Sites of 

  Special Scientific Interest

  



Building Standards Advisory Committee

  



Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd (members 

  only)

  



East of Scotland Water Authority

  



North of Scotland Water Authority

  



Scottish Environment Protection 

  Agency

  



Scottish Natural Heritage

  



Water Industry Commissioner

  



West of Scotland Water Authority

  



Highlands and Islands Airports 

  Ltd (members only)

  



Scottish Transport Group (members 

  only)

  



Minister for Communities

  

Advisory Committee on Scotland’s 

  Travelling People

  



Local Government Boundary Commission 

  (members only) 

  



Rent Assessment Panel for Scotland

  



Scottish Homes (members only)

  



Minister for Finance

  

Scottish Valuation and Rating Council

  



Minister for Children and Education

  

Community Learning Scotland

  



Children’s Panels (32)

  



National Galleries of Scotland

  



National Museums of Scotland

  



Royal Fine Arts Commission for 

  Scotland

  



Scottish Arts Council

  



Scottish Childcare Board

  



Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration

  



Scottish Council for Educational 

  Technology (members only)

  



Scottish Consultative Council on 

  the Curriculum

  



Scottish Screen

  


 
Sportscotland

  



Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs

  

Electricity Fisheries Committee

  



Hannah Research Institute

  



Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  



Moredun Research Institute

  



Rowett Research Institute

  



Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

  



Scottish Crop Research Institute

  



Deputy Minister for Justice

  

Scottish Advisory Committee on 

  Drug Misuse

  



Deputy Minister for Culture and 

  Sport

  

Ancient Monuments Board

  



General Teaching Council for Scotland 

  (four members only)

  



Historic Buildings Council for 

  Scotland

  



Royal Commission on the Ancient 

  and Historical Monuments of Scotland

  



  Appointments made by Ministers acting jointly

  


Responsible Ministers

  

Body

  



First Minister and Deputy First 

  Minister

  

Accounts Commission for Scotland

  



Scottish Council for Educational 

  Technology (Chair only)

  



Scottish Industrial Development 

  Advisory Board (Chair only)

  



Minister for Finance and Minister 

  for Communities

  

Accounts Commission for Scotland 

  (members only)

  



  Appointments made by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister

  


Body

  



Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

  



All Judges and Sheriffs with the 

  exception of the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk (see 

  note)

  



National Library of Scotland (five 

  members only)

  



Scottish Criminal Cases Review 

  Commission

  



  Note: In the case of the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk, the recommendation is made to Her Majesty by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister may only nominate someone who has been recommended to him by the First Minister.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its ministers have met the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Donald Dewar: Two. Susan Deacon and Mr Jack McConnell.

Special Advisers

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is to be paid to Mr John Rafferty in the light of the termination of his contract as Special Adviser to the First Minister.

Donald Dewar: Mr Rafferty will receive what he is due under the terms of his contract of employment. A copy of the model contract for Special Advisers is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Transport

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made of the number of vehicles which have crossed the Kincardine Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge in each of the last two years and how many vehicles each bridge was originally designed to carry each year.

Sarah Boyack: The traffic information requested is given in the table below:

  Total Annual Traffic

  

 

Total annual traffic 

  (all vehicle types, two-way) 1997 (millions)

  

Total annual traffic 

  (all vehicle types, two-way) 1998 (millions)




Forth Road Bridge

  

21.08

  

20.78*

  



Kincardine Bridge

  

9.04

  

9.10

  



  Source: Scottish Executive and Forth Road Bridge Joint Board

  *Forth Road Bridge traffic was affected by roadworks during 1998.

  It should be noted that design capacities are not expressed in terms of vehicles per year and therefore this information is not available.

Transport

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding a reduction in the cost to road hauliers of excise duty in order to assist Scottish firms’ trading position.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive keeps in regular contact with Treasury on a range of reserved issues which affect Scottish interests.